Over $10,000 Donated to Skagit Food Distribution Center

THANK YOU! We start with gratitude because this announcement would not be possible without the amazing generosity of the Co-op’s member-owners. At the outset of COVID-19, we heard the same question from several of our member-owners: “How can we help?” In response, we made it even easier for Co-op member-owners to donate their annual patronage refunds to the Skagit Food Distribution Center. And wow, did you show up! We were able to donate over $10,000 to support the Distribution Center’s ongoing work to feed the hungry in our community!

The Skagit Food Distribution Center (SFDC) is the centralized distribution center for all of the food banks in Skagit County. Each year, SFDC works tirelessly to provide 1.5 million pounds of food to fifteen local food banks and four hot meal programs that serve 45,000 Skagit County residents. Beyond its role as the distribution hub, SFDC also works to serve vulnerable populations by coordinating healthy food delivery to homebound seniors and weekend lunches for school children.SFDC buys produce whose high demand is rarely matched by donation, including beets, cabbage, carrots, green beans, tomatillos, chilacayotes, etc.

The Food Distribution Center also makes opportunity purchases: when a farm has a buyer for produce, but the deal falls through, SFDC steps in as a buyer so farmers can cover their costs, while still allowing SFDC to obtain top quality produce at a discount for distribution. Because produce’s shelf life is much shorter than shelf-stable products, SFDC must store and deliver this produce quickly to ensure freshness. It is a joy to know that not only will our donation help relieve hunger, but it will also help provide food that is healthy and fresh while supporting local farmers. Thank you for being an important part of this circle of community giving.

Skagit Food Distribution Center partners with the farms listed below to put fresh food on the table, many of whose products you can find right here in the Co-op: Bay Baby Produce, Blue Heron Farm, Blanchard Mountain Farm, Cabrera Farm, Cascadian Farm, Foothills Flowers Farm, Forest Farmstead, G & D Wallace, Harts Farm and Homestead, Highland Farm West, Highwater Farm, Knutzen Farms, Lopez Brothers Farm, Mariposa Farm, Norm Nelson Potatoes, NW Green Farm, NW Wild Foods, Osprey Hill Farm, Pollen Folly Farm, Pure Nelida, Rocky Farm Foods, Samish Island Community Garden, Skagit Flats Farm, Sky Harvest Farm, Spring Time Farm, Treehouse Produce, Valley Pride, Waxwing Farm, and Well Fed Farms

Food Banks and Meal Programs Served: Alger Food Bank, Anacortes 100 Food Bank, Salvation Army Food Bank (Anacortes), Tri-Parish Food Bank (Burlington), Community Covenant Food Bank (Clear Lake), Concrete Food Bank, Hamilton Community Food Bank, La Conner Sunrise Food Bank, Bread of Life Food Bank (Marblemount), Neighbors in Need Food Bank (Mount Vernon), Helping Hands Food Bank (Sedro Woolley), Stanwood-Camano Food Bank, His Pantry Food Bank (Camano), North Whidbey Help House (Oak Harbor), Friendship House Café (Mount Vernon), YMCA Oasis Teen Shelter (Mount Vernon), Open Door Community Kitchen (SW), and Skagit Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services (Mount Vernon)

Community Conversation About Local Food Resiliency

If you are interested in learning more about the Food Distribution Center and local food resiliency, please join us for a Community Conversation via Zoom on Thursday, October 22 at 12pm.